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Get off your bikes, advisers to TfL tell staff
Last updated at 10:12am on 09.07.07
Jumpstart: a cyclist runs a red light in Buckingham Palace Road
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A firm hired to advise Transport for London on how to encourage people to travel by bike has banned its employees from cycling because of the dangers.
Jacobs Babtie, an engineering company with 36 offices around Britain, had landed itself in hot water for telling staff they must drive or use public transport. They can only cycle if they are working away from roads, such as on canal towpaths.
The firm, which advises local authorities on sustainable transport projects, was paid £6 million by TfL last year to monitor the impact of congestion charging and how many people have switched from cars to walking or cycling.
Ken Livingstone's green transport adviser Jenny Jones called on TfL to re-consider the contract. "It is hypocritical to offer advice on promoting cycling but at the same time ban your staff from using bikes."
TfL, which has a target of achieving a five-fold increasing in cycling levels by 2025, will host the opening prologue of the Tour de France in the capital this weekend.
A TfL spokesman said: "We find the attitude of Jacobs bizarre and we will be urging them to rethink this decision. Our serious investment in growing cycling has seen journeys by bike soar by 83 per cent since 2000. The number of cyclists killed or seriously injured has fallen by 28 per cent since the mid Nineties."
A Jacobs Babtie health and safety memo to all employees said: "The reason for this policy is to protect our employees from other vehicles on the road." The email admits it "could be construed as being at odds with our environmental policy and will not please our environmentally friendly clients".
Meanwhile, thousands of cyclists are endangering their lives and those of others by riding on pavements and jumping red lights, according to a major survey.
Almost half of the 2,000 questioned by insurer Cornhill Direct admitted riding on pavements.
The Standard reported this week that more than 5,000 cyclists have been issued with on-the-spot £30 fines for riding on London pavements in the past two years.
More than one in five admitted jumping red traffic lights and 16 per cent admitted having hit someone. Nearly one in 10 riders confessed they had damaged cars.
Reader views (6)
Twice in the past week I nearly been mowed down by an cyclist, once I was on the pavement.
In April one ran into me as I was crossing the road, the lights were red and the little green man was showing, the cars all stopped, but as per usual the cyclist sailed through. When he hit me he apologised and said his brakes weren't working...an obivious lie as he screeched to halt straight away.
The trouble is there are more and more bikes on the road now and they seem to feel as though red lights don't apply to them, which is OK if they creep through them slowly, but when the rush through at speed, they're a danger and a menace.
- Shelly, London
I was nearly run over yesterday by a bike who thought he had the right to ride the wrong way down a one way street and go through a red light!
- Jan, Romford
I do agree that it is inexcusable to cycle along pavements, especially in busy locations, but as for cyclists "doing 30mph", I think Freya, London must live in an area of London in which everyone is super fit. As a regular cyclist I know that very few of my fellow pedallers exceed even 20mph, 30mph is a speed largely attained by serious amateurs rather than your average cyclist in London on the way to work on a beaten up old mountain bike!
- Mark B, London
I am a cyclist and I get really annoyed to see other cyclists riding on pavements and not following the rules of the road. How are we supposed to get respect from drivers and be treated well as fellow road users when sso many disregard the rules of the road. Bring back the cycling proficiency test for ALL children and make training available for all who want it so that cycling can become a sensible option.
Raise the standard of cyclists , make them feel saafer about using the public highways and get them to abide by the rules so that they might be treated with respect..
By far the biggest danger to cyclists is still drivers using mobile phone - especially if they have to make a left turn. Drivers have to hold the phone in one hand and with the other :change gear, indicate, steer the car etc.
Drivers often misjudge the speed and try overtaking a cyclist before the junction only to have to rapidly slow down in front of the bike.
No wonder cyclists end up getting cut up and knocked over
- Jonathan Law, Croydon
It's very simple: get rid of cars or ban cyclists, you can't have both - they just don't mix!
- Dave, Cornwall
If half the cyclists surveyed admitted riding on the pavement, then the rest of them were lying. Of course, now they have their silly little bells to ring as they ride into you while they're doing 30mph around a blind bend on a pathway.
- Freya, London
